Runner for a drawer

ABSTRACT

A runner for slidably supporting a drawer includes a telescopic rail assembly having a first rail and a second rail, both being movable one along another to allow the telescopic rail assembly to be varied between an elongated position and a shortened position. The runner further includes a retainer having a female piece attached to the first rail and a male piece attached to the second rail. Additionally, the female piece has a recess defined therein and the male piece is adapted to releasably snap into the recess of the female piece when the telescopic rail assembly is in the shortened position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a runner for a drawer and, more particularly, to a runner in which a telescopic rail assembly can be positively retained in its shortened position.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] It is known that there is a telescopic runner used for slidably supporting a drawer. As shown in FIG. 1, the runner includes an outer rail 91, an intermediate rail 92 and an inner rail 93, with a notch 94 defined in an end of the inner rail 93 and a stop 95 formed on the outer rail 91. The stop 95 is made of a resilient material, such as plastic, rubber or the like, and it is got stuck in the notch 94 when the inner rail 93 is fully retracted into the outer rail 91, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0005] However, it has been found that the resilient stop 95 will be worn soon and so the drawer slidably supported on the runner can not be retained in its retreated position.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a runner in which a telescopic rail assembly can be positively retained in its shortened position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An improved runner provided for slidably supporting a drawer includes a telescopic rail assembly having a first rail and a second rail, and a retainer having a female piece attached to the first rail and a male piece attached to the second rail. The rails are movable one along another to allow the telescopic rail assembly to be varied between an elongated position and a shortened position. Furthermore, the female piece has a recess defined therein and the male piece is adapted to releasably snap into the recess of the female piece when the telescopic rail assembly is in its shortened position.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional runner for slidably supporting a drawer;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a front view of the runner of FIG. 1, showing an inner rail fully retracted in an outer rail;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a runner in accordance with the present invention for slidably supporting a drawer;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a front view of the runner of FIG. 3, showing a telescopic rail assembly in its elongated position;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a front view of the runner of FIG. 3, showing the telescopic rail assembly in its shortened position;

[0014]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive runner;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a front view of the runner of FIG. 6, showing the telescopic rail assembly in its shortened; and

[0016]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a first embodiment of a runner in accordance with the present invention for slidably supporting a drawer. The inventive runner includes a telescopic rail assembly 1 and a retainer 2.

[0018] The telescopic rail assembly 1 includes a first rail 11, a second rail 12, and optionally a third rail 13 intervening between the first and second rails 11, 12. These rails 11, 12, 13 are movable one along another to allow the telescopic rail assembly 1 to be varied between an elongated position and a shortened position.

[0019] The retainer 2 includes a resilient female piece 21 attached to the first rail 11 and a male piece 22 attached to the second rail 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the two pieces 21, 22 are attached to the rails 11, 12 by means of respective tabs 14, 15 which are formed integrally on the rails 11, 12 and fitted in narrow slots 211, 221 of the pieces 21, 22. The female piece 21 further has a recess 212 formed with a narrow entrance, and the male piece 22 has a rounded portion 222 adapted to releasably snap into the recess 212 of the resilient female piece 21.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, the two pieces 21, 22 of the retainer 2 are away from each other when the telescopic rail assembly 1 is in its elongated position.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 5, the rounded portion 222 of the male piece 22 will releasably snap into the recess 212 of the resilient female piece 21 when the telescopic rail assembly 1 is fully compressed, thereby retaining the rail assembly 1 in its shortened position.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a second embodiment of the runner in accordance with the present invention. The runner here includes an alternative retainer 3 that has a female piece 31 and a male piece 32, both being attached to the rails 11, 12 by means of respective tabs 14, 15 which are formed integrally on the rails 11, 12 and fitted in narrow slots 311, 321 of the pieces 31, 32.

[0023] In this embodiment, the female piece 32 has a recess 312 bored in a direction transverse to the rails 11, 12, and the male piece 32 has a protrusion 322 mating with the recess 312 of the female piece 321.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the protrusion 322 of the male piece 32 will releasably snap into the recess 312 of the female piece 32 at the exact moment when the telescopic rail assembly 1 is fully compressed. As a result, the rail assembly 1 is retained in its shortened position.

[0025] From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention has the advantage of enabling the telescopic rail assembly to be positively retained in its shortened position.

[0026] While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A runner for a drawer, comprising: a telescopic rail assembly having a first rail and a second rail; said rails being movable one along another to allow said telescopic rail assembly to be varied between an elongated position and a shortened position; a retainer having a female piece attached to said first rail and a male piece attached to said second rail; and wherein said female piece has a recess defined therein and said male piece is adapted to releasably snap into said recess of said female piece when said telescopic rail assembly is in said shortened position.
 2. The runner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recess of said female piece has a narrow entrance, and wherein said male piece has a rounded portion adapted to releasably snap into said recess of said female piece when said telescopic rail assembly is in said shortened position.
 3. The runner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male piece has a protrusion adapted to releasably snap into said recess of said female piece when said telescopic rail assembly is in said shortened position.
 4. The runner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pieces have respective narrow slots defined therein, and wherein said rails are formed with respective tabs fitted in said narrow slots, thereby attaching said pieces to said rails. 